Rats wreak havoc in neighborhood

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) - Between a mild winter and hot summer, neighborhoods in New Bedford are seeing a lot more of one type of critters around: rats. The cause, say some homeowners -- is garbage is piling up, and landlords aren't doing what they're supposed to be.

Maria Pimentel said Wednesday the situation's gotten out of control. She's spent time on her backyard, trying to create a little oasis in her neighborhood near Roosevelt Street -- but its serene atmosphere is being threatened by huge rats. "They are not field mice any more. They are rodents the size of rabbits," said Pimentel.

Dead rats were in evidence Wednesday, and so were burrow holes surruonding the property.

In the last two years, besides the budding flowers she's put in her backyard, big rats have moved in too. Trash cans are luring them in, overflowing, uncovered, spilling over to the ground.

"They are looking for trash to eat, not tomatoes or healthy flowers to chew on," said Pimentel.

Landlords aren't providing enough trash bins, she believes, and aren't being penalized for it.

Mayor Jon Mitchell, D-New Bedford, agreed: "What you are seeing here today is really a symptom of absentee landlords," he said.

Three months ago, the city put together a task force to help curb the problem -- headed by a former state prosecutor -- to make sure landlords follow the rules. The city is also trying to track down absentee landlords and cite them for various violations.